What to Study - SCIENTIFIC METHOD EXAM
Steps of Scientific Method
1. Problem (the QUESTION YOU are trying to answer)
2. Hypothesis (your EDUCATED GUESS) WHAT IS TESTED
3. Experiment (to TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS)
4. Record and analyze your data (by making OBSERVATIONS)
5. Conclusion (IS YOUR HYPOTHESIS RIGHT OR WRONG)
Observations: information gathered by using your SENSES (sight, hearing,
touch, smell, tastes)
Controlled Experiment
- Independent variable: the one factor that is DIFFERENT in all of your
set-ups
o Can only have ONE
- Dependent variable: what you MEASURE
- Experimental group(s): the group that CONTAINS THE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
- Control group: the group that DOES NOT CONTAIN THE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
- Controls or constants: what is kept the SAME between all groups
To make the result of your experiment for valid/reliable:
1. Repeat your experiment (and obtain the same results)
2. Use a larger sample size